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We investigated the effects of extracts from
Rubus coreanus
(RC) and
Artemisia princeps var. orientalis
(AP) on DNA damage response in ultraviolet B (UVB)-exposed HaCaT cells. Cell activity upon treatment for 24 h with RC or AP alone was similar to or greater than that of the nontreated control. When UVB-exposed cells were postincubated for 24 h in medium containing RC or AP, cell activity increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Nuclear fragmentation analysis showed that postincubation with RC or AP decreased UVB-induced apoptosis by about 20% and 15%, respectively, of that in cells postincubated with growth medium. When UVB-exposed cells were postincubated for 24 h in medium containing RC or AP, the level of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analysis showed that treatment of cells not exposed to UVB with RC or AP alone did not significantly change the levels of phospho-p53 and GADD45 protein. Interestingly, when UVB-exposed cells were postincubated for 24 h in medium containing RC or AP, phospho-p53 and GADD45 levels decreased in a concentration dependent manner. Our results suggest that RC and AP extract assist the survival of UVB-exposed cells in parallel with a decrease in levels of UVB-induced DNA damage and damage-response proteins, such as p53 and GADD45.